The Power of Silicates: A New Weapon Against Citrus Diseases

The citrus industry is under threat from various post-harvest diseases, including green mold, sour rot, and blue mold. These diseases are caused by pesky fungi like Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, among others. The problem? Traditional fungicides harm the environment. So, scientists turned to a greener solution: silicates. Researchers tested the effectiveness of sodium, potassium, and calcium silicates against these citrus enemies. They grew the fungi in a lab (in vitro) and added different amounts of silicates to see if it stopped their growth. Sodium silicate was the champ, completely blocking the growth of P. digitatum and P. italicum at a concentration of 2000 ppm. Potassium and calcium silicates also did well, stopping Penicillium spp. at 1%.But how do these silicates fare in the real world? The team tested them on Sidi Aissa clementines. Sodium silicate prevented 41% of brown rot, 72% of sour rot, and 100% of green mold at 6%. Calcium silicate was a strong contender too, slashing blue mold and black rot by 32% and 74% respectively, when used at 6%. When it comes to treating existing diseases, sodium silicate was found to be the most effective. This means it could be used as a spray before or after harvest to keep these fungi at bay. It's like having a superhero on your side, fighting for your citrus fruits!